Roald Dahl

Who He Is

Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff Wales in 1916. He grew up in England and at age eighteen went to work for the Shell Oil Company in Africa. When World War II began, he joined the Royal Air Force and became a fighter pilot. After living in Washington D.C., Roald settled in England where he started writing children's stories. His first stories were written to entertain his children, but his popularity spread and now children of all ages love his stories. Roald Dahl is considered one of the most beloved storytellers of our time. Although he passed away in 1990, his popularity continues to increase as his fantastic novels, including James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, delight an ever-growing legion of fans.

What He Writes

Roald Dahl is known for filling his stories with adventure and humorsome tend more towards slapstick humor, like The Twits, some are filled with suspense and adventure, like James and the Giant Peach, and some, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, can be read for social commentary and satire as well. His stories are full of imaginative language and creative plot twists that hook children of all ages. Many of his books have been made into movies, which provide great opportunities to compare and contrast stories told in different media and can help to motivate readers to stick with a story!

Why Boys Like Him

His characters stand out among the crowd: memorable heroes such as James and Charlie, zany characters like Willy Wonka and the Twits, and terrifying villains like the Grand High Witch. His imaginative stories will also keep boys laughing and inspire creativity.